The following ten articles are excerpts from the complete article above, "Anxiety and Panic Attacks in Emphysema and Other Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD)" by Dr. Vijai Sharma. The material in these articles is not intended as medical advice, but simply as information to discuss with your physician. It can be difficult to distinguish between exacerbation of asthma, COPD, or other pulmonary disorder and panic attack. An exacerbation must be treated by your physician. Before practicing these techniques, please discuss them with your physician when you are not experiencing respiratory distress. Articles found on BBLW, in this form, are the property of Breathing Better Living Well. We invite you to link to the articles and stories on our site. Please DO NOT copy these excerpted articles or stories to place on another site.

Yoga for COPD

by
Vijai Sharma, PhD.

Vijai Sharma, PhD, is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years experience. He had untreated asthma and chronic bronchitis since childhood and was diagnosed with Emphysema in 1994. Vijai strictly follows the COPD medical treatment and follows a program of wide-ranging exercise, nutrition and self-care.

Dr. Sharma specializes in mind-body medicine and appreciates how the anxiety, depression, anger, pain and stress can affect cardiopulmonary, colon and immune system function. He believes that we can utilize the body, breath, mind and spiritual energy for personal well-being, overall health and a better quality of life.

He is currently in private practice and directs the Behavioral Medicine Center in Cleveland, TN. He received extensive clinical training in India, the U.K. and Sweden and has been licensed as a clinical psychologist in Tennessee since 1981. He is a certified yoga teacher and registered with U.S. Yoga Alliance (500+hours) since 2004. He is a yoga instructor at the local YMCA and other fitness facilities and has completed advance teachers’ training in Yoga. Vijai believes yoga has helped him psychologically and physically in his battle with emphysema since being diagnosed. Read More.

Editorials by Jo-Von Tucker (1937–2003)
Only on Breathing Better
Living Well.com

Jo-Von Tucker’s life as she knew it came to a screeching halt
when, at age 52, she was told she had COPD, she would have to wear oxygen
24-hours a day for the rest of her life, and that she had less than five years
to live.Did she go home and give
up? No way! Jo-Von went on long after that to help herself and others by
starting a breathing support group and writing a book and monthly newsletters
for COPD patients and their families. She also got involved in improving oxygen
delivery and availability. Everything she did, she did with gusto and a
no-nonsense style, sometimes bluntly saying, “We just have to get off our duffs
and fix this!”

I met Jo-Von for the first time in late 2003 at the
first national COPD conference just one month before she passed away
unexpectedly from complications following surgery. I share with you here some
of her wisdom. I’m sure she’d be pleased that her words – and her spirit
– live on to help people with COPD. Read Jo-Von's book: Courage and Information for Life with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease